13 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the United Arab Emirates are stranded at Singapore Changi Airport due to the Philippine government’s sudden decision to extend the travel ban to seven countries, including the UAE, to prevent the entry of more contagious Indian variants of COVID-19.
The OFWs slept on the seats at such an airport. They flew in from the UAE on May 31 and arrived at their layover in Singapore early in the morning.
It was here that they learned that the Philippine government had again extended the travel ban until June 15. As a result, they were not allowed to board the plane back to the Philippines.
They were first advised just to go back to the UAE. But they insisted it was not their fault the last-minute announcement of the extended travel ban.
The government had earlier suspended travelers from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Oman, and the UAE until May 31. But President Rodrigo Duterte approved the extension of the travel ban from June 1 to 15.
13 OFWs from UAE stranded in Singapore
The 13 OFWs are in contact with Philippine government agencies. But according to them, they have no concrete answer on when they will be able to return to the Philippines and what they can do.
Meanwhile, a total of 205 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) affected by the temporary deployment suspension are still unable to leave for Saudi Arabia as of Wednesday.
According to Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Hans Cacdac, the flights of such OFWs, most of whom are at the hotel, are still being rebooked.
But he said half of them have already got a flight schedule.
OWWA, on the other hand, ensured that they covered the cost of the hotel, food, and swab test of the OFWs.
The Department of Labor and Employment on Saturday lifted the temporary suspension of the deployment of OFWs to Saudi Arabia.
The DOLE chief also thanked the Saudi government “for acting with dispatch and giving us reassurance” on the matter.
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